Preserving the Active Workset

The Active Workset is a user setting. We can each work using a different Active Workset.

However there is a circumstance where I can affect what the Active Workset is for others.

When I Synchronize with Central (SwC) my Active Workset will be the one any user that OPENS the project afterward will see. That is true until another user uses SwC. Then anyone who creates their local file after them will inherit their Active Workset...and around the bush we go.

It's important to remember to check the Active Workset as soon as your Local File opens.

Keep in mind that other users that are already working in the file will not see a change, their own preference will remain the same. It affects anyone who creates their local file later.

We can agree as a team to always use SwC with a specific Active Workset in play. I can't really expect that to happen every time if I have difficulty remembering to set the Active Workset correctly for my own purposes. I just try hard to remember to check the Active Workset setting before creating any new elements AND especially as soon as I get my Local File open.

We can also remember to take advantage of the Gray Inactive Worksets feature (see image above) to help make it more obvious that we aren't using the correct Active Workset.

Gray Inactive Worksets

This feature is often overlooked but it can help ensure you are setting the Active Workset as you transistion between tasks. It is located on the Collaborate ribbon tab > Manage Collaboration panel and right underneath the Active Workset drop down list.

Let's say I need to start working on the interior partitions next. If I click to enable Gray Inactive Worksets it becomes more obvious that the exterior walls are still my focus.

If I change the Active Workset to Interiors then everything else becomes a light gray color instead.

Now all the interior work I do takes a visual priority compared to the rest of the model.

Such a simple yet easy to overlook feature, try to remember to take advantage of it.

Active Workset Display does not Refresh

I added new worksets to a Local File and used Synchronize with Central to share the change with others. The Active Workset lists on the ribbon and Status Bar did not update in other user's files after they used Reload Latest or Synchronize with Central. It was necessary to open the Workset dialog and just click OK before the new worksets would appear in either the ribbon or Status Bar Active Workset locations. The Active Workset list doesn't seem interested in being updated until the Workset dialog is opened. The list of Worksets that is offered in the Properties Palette when you select something is updated however.

I see it happening in both 2014/2015, haven't tried it in earlier releases.